The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my vibrating phone. I peeled open my eyes and grab the phone from the table. Then groaned as I saw that Caleb was calling.
"What?" I spoke.
"The press is waiting for me outside, man. I even failed to leave," as he said that, I could hear his nervous breathing and then loud thumping of his feet.
"What?" I got up.
I feared for this, now these bastards needed something to talk about on the news.
Dammit.
I walked and peeled open my bedroom window. I felt a shiver travel down my spine at the sight of journalists standing outside the gate. They were not a lot, but enough to make people believe what they were saying. They talked to each other and they looked to be getting ready for when I walk out of those gates.
Should I give them the satisfaction though?
"They are also here, Caleb," I told him as I walked away from the window.
His breathing grew louder. He was never known to panic. Or have I just never seen him in a load of crap like this one? But again, in most cases he was the one to pull me together—except when he was really drunk.
"What are we gonna do?" he asked with a puff.
"I don't know," I sighed.
We needed to do something about the situation that much I knew. But what? Going outside and facing them seemed to be a good idea. It meant we weren't hiding anything and whatever they might have on us was fake. But what if they really prepared and I don't do well under pressure.
Again, just staying here wouldn't help us. They would think whatever they might be saying was the truth and we were afraid to face that truth. Which was true actually. I didn't want to explain to them why a freaking dragon was casing us.
After a while I explained the options that we had to Caleb and it took a while for him to decide which one was better, but he finally chose one that we needed to go with.
"I will call you after I'm done," I said and cut the call.
I took a quick shower. Dressed perfectly, for show off of course. I was gonna be on TV in a few seconds.
Went downstairs and went out of the house. But before I opened the gate, I took a deep breath. Sorry, breaths. Hopefully, Caleb was doing great there.
I opened the gate, and cameras flashed at me. And I have never seen so many cameras in front of me. This are scandals I always try my level best to stay away from. These people would do anything just to get a pleasant story. Just to make their channel popular or make their carriers advance. That is just how it worked.
They were all shouting at the same time, I couldn't even get what they were asking me. Pushing each other just to be in front and get a better picture or have their question answers.
"One question at a time, please. Ok. You. What is your question?" I pointed at a Zambia national broadcasting corporation reporter.
"What was that about? Do freaks really exist? And why was the dragon chasing you and your friend?"
I didn't even know which question to answer first, so I just went with the floor. Hopefully, I don't blurt out something that will end up proving their claims. I just smiled, not wanting my anger or fear to be displayed on my face.
"First of all, I don't think that freaks exit," I looked at him in a rather an unpleasant way then went on. "I mean if they did, we would have known a long time ago. And anything that can hide for so long from you guys, then it does not exist. And that to something has big as a dragon." their expressions changed as they realized what I implied. But I cared less, these people needed to be put in their place. "And everyone ran for their lives. Why would we stay and die because you people would make a story out of it?"
I stopped for a breath, looking at each of them attentively and calmly. I just smiled as I saw their glares. This would just be my leverage out of this. Make then fell guilt enough to let me go, and never come back.
"Mr. Mwansa, we know you have a lot of money, but that doesn't mean you should disrespect us," a tall guy said.
I allowed a mischievous grin split on my face as I looked at the man. "Who said I'm disrespecting you guys? I'm simply admiring what you do. And as far as money goes, I work my butt off for it, and it has nothing to do with all of these. Aren't I supposed to admire your work? I thought I was complementing you." I tried to control my temper, but I could sense myself losing it as each second passed.
"So, to my understanding you are saying freaks don't exist? If so, what the hell was that? Everyone is saying it was a dragon. And why did it follow you as you ran into the woods? Here is the proof," the same Zambia national broadcasting corporation reporter asked. Presumably, after seeing my expression he added the last part and then held up her phone.
As I said, one bastard took an Instagram photo.
I looked at the photo then down. Trying to figure out what to do next. This was bad. Really bad. But I have to maneuver it by hooks or by crooks.
I allowed my happy face to take over. I needed not to give then a reason to put me in a corner.
"I think it's our competitors, who are trying to freak the hell out of us. After what has happened to my parents, I think they would do about anything to ruin the company's name." I paused to allow that to sink in for both me and them. "But if you guys want to believe it's a dragon, then do so. Me and my friends were just running for our lives, and the woods sure seemed to be a damned good place to hide. Don't you all think?"
Just as I finished saying that, a car pulled behind the reporters, and Prince came out. I wonder what the hell took him so long.
The reporters turned to him.
"Listen, everyone, instead of you wasting your time question these people, go and find who the hell was behind that costume," Prince said.
"So, you are also supporting your boss with it's just a damn costume thing?" A black bald man asked.
"First, he is my friend, not just my boss. And yes, I believe that was nothing but a damn costume. But as he has already told you. Believe whatever you want to believe. If you think it was a dragon then go with it. Anyone in their right senses would have done exactly what he did. Oh, news flush, they did."
I knew my father loved Prince, but I didn't know why. He was very good at what he did. And this new him was the person I just needed right now. He had put them where they belonged.
Damn the bastard. I nearly jumped with excitement, but controlled myself at the last minute. Also, because Prince looked at me in a scary motherly way.
So, Prince was kind of my butler or secretary now. He used to run errands for my father—all those nit grits. We talked a few times and a few weeks ago me and Caleb took him to drink which made father upset.
He was a know it all just like you are from seeing. Good guy all in all.
"So, if you may excuse us, we have work to attend to. Hopefully, we have answered all your questions," I tapped an imaginary hat.
Took my gate remote, closed it, and climbed inside Prince's car. And he drove off living the journalists standing on the gate, their faces white and dumbstruck. I just smiled and I took a deep breath because as I was standing in front of those people, I kinder lost track of breathing.
I took my phone and called Caleb.
"Man, that was rough, eh?" I said grinning excitedly.
"Yeah, thank God you got my message," Caleb said.
So, before I went to confront those journalists. Caleb sent me a message saying that our stories should somehow much. So, we both wore air pods, so we spoke the same. Though not exactly the same or it would have been very obvious, we discussed what to say.
After talking for a while, I hang up and turned to Prince. "Thanks, man. I really appreciate what you did for me back there."
"Anytime. Now start explaining what the hell is going on here," Prince said.
I had no choice but to seek his help. But that had to lead me to this tough situation.
Screw that dragon.
For once we were enjoying our lives, but no, the bastard just had to show up…
Here goes nothing.
"What do you want me to tell you? I also do not know what that was all about," I lied. Trying my luck just in case Prince buys it.
"Jackson, the truth."
"Alright, don't freak out and cause an accident. But it was a veritable dragon. And it was after us," I sighed.
"What?" He hit the brakes.
"Dude, I told you not to freak out. Startup the car we are in the middle of the road," we were just in luck few cars were on the road that day for some reason. Or those bastards would have another chance to ask me questions. "You wanted the truth. And tell this to anyone I will castrate you myself."
He looked at me, "oh, you are being serious?"
"Do I look like I'm kidding? And will you still keep this concealed when a psychopath threatens to remove all your teeth out without anesthesia? Or he threatens to harmer you toe or…"
"I got the message you can put that away." He gestured at the orb hoovering on top of my palm. "So why was the dragon chasing you and Caleb? Wait since you. Does it mean Caleb is also…" he gasped.
"Yes, he is," I responded.
"Damn. And what are you? Are you also dragons?"
"Oh, no. I'm a wizard, and Caleb is a werewolf."
He was silent for a while as I contemplated what I just told him. For someone who just found out magic existed, he was acting okay, so to say. He didn't freak out that much, aside from hitting the breaks when I told him it was a real dragon.
"What does the dragon what from you guys?" he asked as he sped up. I didn't know if those were nerves or he just wanted to get to work fast.
"Was. We killed the bastard last night." I explained everything to Prince from the night me and Caleb store the skull, my parents and pretty much everything he needed to know. And his face looked as blank as hell the whole time.
After that he was silence pretty much the all way. He didn't say much, and if any word came out of his mouth it was to ask me just a few things he thought I didn't mention. But I didn't want him to know everything, for his safety and that of ours.
Even though he said he would keep his mouth shut when one of the people out to get me threatens him, a part of me knew he wouldn't keep it together. I mean having someone rip out you nails one by one would be reason enough for me to say something.
Before I knew it, we were already at the company. He packed his X-Trial and we got out. As we were entering the company, I gestured for Prince to keep his mouth mute. And then remained him of the threat I made to him if he snitched. But I just did that for good measure actually.
We parted ways; he went to his office, and I went to mine. Just as I sat down, Caleb entered. I don't know how many times I told him to knock before entering, but I got tired of it so I didn't even bother.
He sat down with a sigh, and then looked up at me. "Man, I was dying there."
"I feel you, but I don't think those bastards will bother us any time soon," I said, but I concentrated on the files that I apparently found on the table.
"Luckily we kill..."
Caleb's sentence got interrupted as his phone went off in his pocket. He took it out.
"Unknown number?" He looked at me.
"Well, answer it. Who knows, maybe it's money," I said and we both laughed.
He answered the phone and after a couple of minutes; I saw his eyes widen.
Trouble in paradise. We just dealt with those journalists, now what. He got off the phone and looked at me.
"There is trouble, isn't it?"
"Yeah. Big trouble," he enunciated.
"Well, spit it out," I scolded.
"Two more dragons are here."
"Wait what!" I gasped.